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Step 1
Buy domestic medications. Online pharmacies, based outside of the United States, have been known to sell counterfeit drugs. Protect yourself by buying only from pharmacies based in the United States.
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Step 2
Examine your prescription drugs visually. If you have been prescribed this medication before, compare the pills in terms of color, shape and markings. If the pills look damaged or different, consult your pharmacist before taking them.
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Step 3
Verify your prescription drugs visually against the database at the Drug website. See the Resources section below for a link.
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Step 4
Check the packaging of your prescription drugs. If it looks like it has been opened or the packaging looks strange, do not take the medication. Additionally, if the labels are in a foreign language, show your pharmacist the suspect medication.
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Step 5
Compare logos on your prescription drug's packaging, as well as other packaging materials, to those on websites managed by the manufacturer.
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Step 6
Know your medications. Be aware of the taste and odor of the prescription drugs you regularly take. If anything changes or seems off, ask your pharmacist whether there has been an intentional change in your medication.
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Step 7
Report counterfeit drugs to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). You can do so online at the FDA website. See the Resources section below for a link.
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Step 8
Understand the even legitimate pharmacies can accidentally distribute counterfeit or incorrect medication. Double-check your prescription each time you receive it.
